The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1887-08-27

speak to any Of the children. didn'
know what to say. might have
stood there long while, but suddenly
heard a faint little voice call, Lady,
. lady! turned around, and there in
cot near me lay little boy eight OF
nine years old. He was calling me-
too. Wasn't it queer? He did no
want 10 or the others. He Just took ,
fancy to me.
Twas never so much pleased. but
absurd as it seems, could not hell
feeling embarrassed, for had neye.
talked much with any children and
did not know what l should say to this
boy whose eyes looked at me longing
". As came near he lifted his thin
little arms and stretched out his hands
to me, and then forgot my silly shy
ness and kissed him. and we became
good friends in a very short time. |
told him my name, but he never could
remember it, and as always wore my
brown dress when went to see him,
he called me his "brown lady"
For went to the hospital often
after that day. and l tried to be inter-
ested in the other boys, but couldn't,
and so l spent all my time there with
Bernie, for that was my boys name.
Poor little fellow! he wasn't bit
pretty. He had red hair and pug
nose. but his eyes were beautiful. They
were large and brown, and had a
| solemn look in them that made one
feel eerie and when l went to see
him and had been IN some "scrape"
| at school during the week, I felt down.
right ashamed of myself when those
| wonderful eyes looked at me. His
face was very pale, and he was so thin
and fragile that it seemed as if the
lightest breath of wind might blow
him away.
Sometimes | told him stories about
frogs and monkeys and things like
that-awfully silly. but they pleased
him-and he would lie there smiling
at the ridiculous thing told, and yet
all the time his grave, earnest eyes
seemed to say to me that their little
owner was too digniied to care about
such babyish stories. OF course he
wasn't. He did like to hear them, but
nevertheless his eyes had that queer
expression, Isuppose it was the pain
he had all the time, for poor Bernie
had had a bad fall, and his back was
hurt somehow, and he sutt cred terri
bly,. the doctor told me. Yet the
brave little fellow never cried, but
bore the agony like the hero he was,
and even did not realize until after
ward how much courage he was show
ing by his patient endurance.
! used to bring him toys sometimes,
but Noticed that he didn't seem to
care much for them. and | often Won
dered what there was he would like.
Meanwhile my parents were home
again, and ! was no longer in boarding |
school; and Just about this time it be-
came very warm in the city, and, as
every one knows. there is nothing so
nice as ice-cream Soda water on a hot |
day, and therefore when left Bernie
one morning l went down to Huyler's
to get some, and there met Kitty Dim
pie. Kitty was my most particular
friend; that is, we always bought hats
alike and had our tin-types taken to.
gether and walked on Fifth avenue with |
each other and were very "chummy'
indeed.
"Oh, you dear thingr' cried Kitty |
(she is ever SO enthusiastc), Il am so
glad to see you. for want you to
promise to 60 with me next Saturday. |
| have splendid plan arranged. First,
we'll have our pictures taken, and then
lunch together and afterward |
take drive. Will you? All,
do say yes OF course ! did,
and then | began to feel ashamed. |
Why? Because that very morning
had asked Bernie if there was any,
thing he wanted that could get, and
what do you suppose he said? Not Il
thing boys would be apt to ask for
just a white rose. Wasn't it queer?
OF course promised to bring it to him
the next Saturday. knew l wouldn't
be able to do SO until thcn-and now
! had told Kitty l would spend the
day with her. However, l consol ell |
myself by thinking that perhaps the
sisters at the hospital would let me
see Bernie before went to X itty's,
that is before visitors hours. and /
resolved to get up early that coming
Saturday and carry the rose to my
boy as called him.
Bat when the day came I was so ex-
cited about going out that forgot all
about Bernie. and never thought Of
him again until Monday. Then fel,
SO penien, | made up my mind that
nothing should keep ne from going to
see the dear little fellow and bring
him his rose. The next Saturday |
came and it poured rain, and mamma
would not allow me 10 go out for any.
thing. because had bad cold any
way; SO again my visit had to b, post
DOned a week.